Copper

About Copper

Copper is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; a freshly exposed surface has a reddish-orange color. It is used as a conductor of heat and electricity, a building material, and a constituent of various metal alloys. Architectural structures built with copper corrode to give green verdigris or patina. As a distributor of metals, Alro maintains a large inventory of copper in several grades in sheet, rod, tube, bars, and flats. We offer next-day delivery when you order from our online store. Alro carries a wide range of metal products, including alloy, aluminum, carbon steel, tool steel, copper, and more. Our copper offerings include copper bars, pipe/tube, plate, and sheet.

Common Uses of Copper

Copper has an extremely wide range of applications based on its conductivity, corrosion resistance, workability, and beauty. Because of copper’s properties it is well-suited for domestic and industrial plumbing goods, contacts and switchgears, and electrical wiring. Copper is widely used in the housing and telecommunications industries in everything from electrical wiring to architectural elements. It's beautiful color and sound have also made it popular with artists. Other uses for copper include fabricating fasteners, flashing, firing pins and making industrial pumps, welding fixtures, switchgears, electrical and plumbing parts.

Grades of Copper Stocked by Alro

110 Copper, CDA C11000, a grade with the highest electrical conductivity of any metal except silver. C110 Copper has high electrical and thermal conductivity, good corrosion resistance and solderability. End uses include welding fixtures, electrical components, and plumbing fittings.

C17200, also known as Alloy 25, the most commonly utilized beryllium copper (BeCu) alloy and is notable for exhibiting the highest strength and hardness compared to commercial copper alloys. 172 copper strength and hardness are similar to that of steel. C17200 copper's ultimate tensile and Rockwell hardness properties in a peak aged condition are in the 200 ksi range and RC 45 respectively (electrical conductivity 22% IACS minimum).

172 BeCu copper is a high strength beryllium copper mold alloy. It is noted for its high thermal conductivity. It is most often used in blow molds, cores, inserts in injection molds, injection nozzles, hot runners, and manifolds. Alro stocks 172 BeCu copper in plate and sheet in various thicknesses and widths.